MINNEAPOLIS + ST. PAUL GUIDE
Quick Links
Coffee
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Roots Roasting
This place is across the street from the Mac House. Their coffee and teas are great. They have a few baked goods as well. Conveniently located for your stay.
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Spyhouse Coffee
There are a few locations and all of them are really beautiful. Tasty warm drinks and appropriate pick me up for all your caffeine needs.
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Coffee Cup
Greasy Spoon, small diner breakfast. Really good. Low key. It’s like a St. Paul tradition I think.
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Quixotic Coffee
This place is typically busy, so go at your own risk (of not getting a table) BUT it is a really cool spot. Some local baked goods, great nitro coffee.
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Nina’s Coffee Cafe
In the most BEAUTIFUL building ever in St. Paul. GREAT Vibes. Great coffee, tea, baked goods. Worth the visit!
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Sencha Tea
Breakfast
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Buttered Tin
You can’t go wrong with the downtown St. Paul staple. Great breakfast.
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Keys Cafe
It's a Twin Cities institution. Great breakfasts. Lots of baked goods. Multiple locations.
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High Hat
Cozy, brunch vibe lounge spot in St. Paul. Busy on the weekends. Worth the wait.
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Hot Plate
Super quirky diner. Go for the food and wait just so you can explore the interesting inside. Seriously, you will know when you go in… And that pecan roll..
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Berry Sweet Kitchen
Casual, homey feel.
Serving crepes, burritos, and more! -
Stonegarden
Upscale, modern, brunchy spot!
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Wise Acre Eatery
Farm to Table - delightful eatery
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Standish Cafe
Really good little cafe serving brunch.
Food for the Rest of the Day
Meat
Burgers & Sandwiches
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Casper & Runyon's the Nook
Arguably the best Juicy Lucy (regional favorite, cheese stuffed burger) in the Twin Cities. Great wings and cheese curds, too!
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Red Cow
Incredible burgers. Try any of them. Their Ahi Crisps are delightful as well.
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Sonder Shaker
A new restaurant in Minneapolis. They have the best burger we have ever had in Minnesota. Do yourself a favor and try it. And get the brussel sprouts. These are grown up and tasty as heck.
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Cecil’s Delicatessen
The best Reuben's in Minnesota.
A couple versions, all amazing. Great baked goods. Great malts. All around a good place for a bite to eat!
Pizza
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Cosetta’s
Italian food and pizza in a deli counter setting. St. Paul staple since 1911. Bakery, gelato shop, and Italian market under the same roof. You won't be sorry you chose Cosetta's.
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Carbone’s Pizzeria
Independent chain serving pizza, pasta, and hoagies.
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Randys Pizza
100% Gluten Free shop
Expensive but Minnesota style and so good -
Pizza Luce
My (Tanya’s) Favorite place for pizza in the Twin Cities. High quality ingredients. Tasty crust. Lots of good variations (umm a mashed potato pizza..). You can’t go wrong!
Asian
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Hmong Village
Want something way different? Check this place out. It’s hard to explain. It is ONLY for the adventurous. You may very likely get lost in here, but the food you find is so good.
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Pad Thai - Grand Avenue
Family-run Thai pick serving spiced-to-order classics in a casual dining room with large murals.
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emQue Viet
This place has amazing egg rolls, wontons, lo mein and beautiful drinks! They have state fair famous (it’s a thing here in MN) garlic cream cheese wontons that you maaaay dream about after you get an order. Catch their happy hour for a good deal on them!
Other
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Moscow on The Hill
Russian food. This place will make you appreciate those delightful flavors AND they have so many house made vodka options.
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Holyland
If you like Guy Fieri’s Diners Drive-ins & Dives, you will love this place, he put his stamp of approval on it! They have cones of meat and the best hummus ever. If you are the adventurous type, go here, order food, eat then wander into the attached grocery store for a new experience!
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Guavas Cuban Cafe
Authentic Cuban fare served for breakfast, lunch & dinner in this relaxed eatery offering beer & wine.
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Christos
If you like Greek food you are in for a TREAT. We found out this place is on Yelp Top 100 in the US and for a good reason. Their gyro meat is the best I have ever tasted and everything else on the menu is great too. I mean, who doesn’t love flaming cheese, OPA! Finish your meal off with a Cherry Pie which is NOT a piece of pie. It’s a grown up and magnificent version of a Toaster Strudel. My mouth waters anytime I think of it.
FYI, the two Chipotles in our neighborhoods are not very good.
Treats
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Sebastian Joe's
The best Oreo ice cream I have ever had. We just keep going back. Multiple locations and some of the local restaurants carry it on their own dessert menu’s.
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Treats Cereal Bar & Boba
This place is new and it's incredible. They use vanilla soft serve and magically mix in cereal for a really fun treat. It is worth it, we promise.
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Nadia Cakes
Get a dozen and cut all of them in halves or quarters. Share. Everything is amazing there. They have won lots of awards for a reason. Not sure why they chose Minnesota to branch out to, but we appreciate it!
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T-Rex Cookies
1/2 Pound Cookies. So much gooey goodness. Try their Sea Salt Caramel Chocolate Chip. Get extras.
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Grand Ole Creamery
Has been here forever and is so so good!
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Marc Heu Patisserie Paris
If you are feeling fancy, check this place out.
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Hold the Wheat
It’s a bit of a drive to St Louis Park but if you are gluten free this place has GREAT pastries that are fun treat. Check hours BEFORE you drive there though.
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Nelsons Ice Cream
So this ice cream is basic, nothing to write home about BUT the kids scoop portion is ENorMOUS. You will literally get a half gallon of ice cream haha. Good to go just to see the spectacle
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Cafe Latte
Their cakes. Are. Amazing. SO maybe they should be in the dessert category? Or maybe you should have cake for breakfast!
Traditional Bars
Downtown St Paul
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Tom Reid’s Hockey City Pub
If you’re coming for St. Patrick’s Day, a hockey game or a concert, this is a great place to stop!
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Seventh Street Truck Park
Downtown St. Paul. Interesting vibe. Good drinks.
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The Gnome
Neighborhood gastro pub with over 60 beers on tap.
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W.A. Frost & Company
Longtime destination for upscale New American fare & wine in a historic venue with a charming patio.
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Groveland Tap
Lots of beers very close to Groveland Inn house
Mac-Groveland Neighborhood
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Sweeney’s Saloon
Conveniently located by The Hart house. Perfect little local bar to have some drinks with friends.
Other
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Sidebar at Surdyk’s
In the summer this place is open to the outside elements. Super cool design. Amazing craft cocktails.
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1029 Bar
Karaoke bar. Some of the best camaraderie that comes with drunk singing. Worth a visit.
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The Vegas Lounge
Karaoke bar. Such good people watching at a place like this. Stuff drinks. Bring cash. Have fun.
Breweries & Distilleries
Check times on their websites. Some are closed on Monday’s & Tuesday’s
St Paul Area
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Lake Monster Brewing Company
An award-winning craft brewery located in Vandalia Towers near I-94 and Highway 280.
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Urban Growler Brewing Company
Minnesota’s first women-owned microbrewery.
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Wandering Leaf Brewing Co.
A destination brewery with over 400 live plants indoors, including a plant wall.
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Summit Brewing Company
Busy brewery with tours & a taproom, featuring tasting flights, patio seats & frequent food trucks.
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Saint Paul Brewing
Located on the site of the original Hamm's Brewery keg house. Our patio and biergarten was once the Hamm's horse stables and carpentry shop.
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Yoerg Brewing Company
Bavarian beer brewed on site, Trappist ales & global wines served in charming, old-timey surrounds.
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Barrell Theory Beer Company
Craft brewery based in St. Paul, Minnesota. Known for its innovative and high-quality brews.
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Gambit Brewing Company
Microbrewery in St. Paul.
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King Coil Spirits
A distillery, cocktail bar, and pizza spot in the Vandalia Tower.
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MetroNOME Brewery
MetroNOME Brewery at 385 Broadway St in St Paul, Minnesota, is dedicated to supporting music education. They integrate their passion for craft beer with a mission to fund and promote music education programs, particularly for underprivileged youth in the Twin Cities Metro area.
MPLS Area
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Sociable Cider Werks
Craft ciders, food trucks eats & live music.
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Surly Brewing
Known for its bold craft beers, lively beer hall, outdoor beer garden
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Fulton Beer
House beers are poured in the industrial warehouse setting of this microbrewery with communal seats.
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Town Hall Tap
Chill gastropub providing craft brews, specialty burgers & other casual eats amid retro accents.
Near our Dearly Beloved house!
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Northbound Smokehouse & Brewpub
Brewpub offering beer flights, cocktails, gourmet sandwiches & bar bites in a contemporary space.
Near our Dearly Beloved house!
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Venn Brewing Company
Vibrant hangout with a terrace & a modern vibe offering craft ales, plus snacks from a food truck.
Near our Dearly Beloved house!
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Utepils Brewing
A notable brewery located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Known for its inviting atmosphere and quality craft beers, it has become a popular spot in the Twin Cities area.
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indeed brewing co.
A well-known microbrewery based in Northeast Minneapolis.
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Falling Knife Brewing Co.
Craft brewery and taproom in Northeast Minneapolis.
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Minneapolis Cider Co.
Airy hangout with a patio & an industrial vibe offering a cider menu, plus crêpes & pickleball.
Things to Do Around the Twin Cities
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Amusement Parks
Nickelodeon Universe at Mall of America.
Valley Fair in Shakopee.
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Summit Mansions
Just Google Walking Tours. There are so many original MN Mansions. It’s really neat.
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Art
See the Cherry & the Spoon at The Walker Art Center and Sculpture Garden. Minneapolis Institute of Art.
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Theatre
Minnesota actually has more than 400 stages for theatre.
The Guthrie.
The Fitzgerald Theatre.
The State Theatre.
The Pantages Theatre.
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Paisley Park
Are you a Prince fan? Maybe you aren’t. You’ll still find this place interesting.
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U of M Arboretum
It’s beautiful and outdoorsy.